I felt like I had to post this one as soon as possible due to the cliffhanger I left you guys on. Sorry about that, btw, but it made it interesting, didn't it?

SnowyNeko: We all have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, don't we.

Yuki: I find it builds anticipation.

SnowyNeko: Yeah, but then you have to wait to know the end! :(

Yuki: If you don't like cliffhangers, why'd you put one in your writing?

SnowyNeko: Cause I wanted to see my loyal fans squirm... :)

Yuki: ...

SnowyNeko: I kid, I kid. But it does strike a note with people that nothing else does.

Kyo: What are you, a sadist?

SnowyNeko: Maybe a bit. That a problem?

Kyo: Yeah, it is!

SnowyNeko: ...*low evil laugh*...

Kyo: So, SnowyNeko doesn't own any of Fruba or its characters. Thankfully.

SnowyNeko: ...*evil grin*...

Kyo: I'm outa here.

SnowyNeko: MWAHAHAHA!

I push through the standstill crowd, jostling people out of my way to reach the stage. Most are paralyzed, unable to comprehend the new occurrence. A few girls here and there are actually sobbing form shock. The girl holding the rat is grinning in victory.

Only one thought makes itself clear in the mud that is my mind; I have to get to Yuki. I hesitate for a second when I hear someone speak.

"He's… a rat?" With that to break the ice, chaos ensues. The crowd becomes a mob of confused and scared witnesses, stumbling over each other unsure where to go. I myself am shoved around as I struggle against the flood.

I catch a glimpse of that white rat, squirming desperately to escape the girl's grip. The girl, with stringy blonde hair and glasses, studies the mysterious transformation with glowing eyes.

"Fascinating!" she laughs. "I had the hunch, but this is just mesmerizing!"

I slide between a couple and bump into a boy, who, seeing who I am, gasps.

"She's related to him!" he accuses. "Does she change, too?" An instantaneous circle of avoidance forms around me, everyone afraid to get too close. Not caring, I use the space to quickly rush to the stage.

I happen to notice that Hotsuharu and Momiji are getting the same treatment. The normally polite white-haired cousin of Yuki's is trembling, a snarl on his face. Momiji holds his hand, begging him to calm down. So that's who Yuki calls 'Black Haru". His rage encourages me to hurry. When I'm finally able to clamber onstage, the girl takes notice of me.

"What do you want?" she asks, annoyed that I'm interrupting her moment of triumph. The rat's purple eyes spot me, and for a moment he goes still.

"I'm all right, Vierra. Please go help Momiji with Hotsuharu."

"It can talk in this form! Amazing!" she exclaims in awe, captivated entirely.

A send him a venomous glare. "Are you an idiot!?" I hiss. "You've turned into your zodiac in front of the entire school, and you're telling me you're alright? Don't give me that crap!"

"You know about this?" The blonde girl's tone becomes intrigued, thirsty for knowledge. "What can you tell me about it? Is there a way to make him turn back? Does it run in his bloodline at all? Genetics? Do you turn into a rat as well?"

"Shut up," I growl. "You're annoying." I fist my able hand and swing, my fist colliding with her surprised face. On impact, her hand loosens around Yuki and he uses that advantage to escape, scampering away as fast as his little paws can carry him.

"Ever heard of privacy?" I grumble, straightening my dress and puffing a strand of hair out of my face. The idiot got her blood on my knuckles. A sudden screech pulls my attention away from the girl cradling her face in agony.

"You have a problem with us!?" Black Haru roars. "There something wrong with us!?" Momiji has completely lost it, given up on soothing Haru and crying helplessly. Even though he's related to Yuki, there's a significantly sized group of girls by his side comforting him. The benefits of being cute, I guess.

Haru, however, is inconsolable. He curses out every threat in existence, taunting the observers and smashing anything and anyone who gets too close. A nearby snack table now lies in bits. Thankfully, no one is brave enough (or stupid enough) to face him head on. That saves us from having any deaths on our hands, which is at least something we have right now to be grateful for.

Something needs to happen, though, and it needs to happen now. People are going to end up injured if this goes on. What can I do?

The sound of a familiar apology brings me to Tohru. She's bowing to Uo and Hana, repeating 'SORRY' over and over again.

"Hey Vierra!" Uotani singles me out. "Did you know about the Prince of Rats, too?" I nod. "Okay, then. What now?"

I glance at Tohru, taking note she's in no shape to take action. Again, I survey the room for something, anything. First things first. We've got to solve the number one issue and cause of trouble. Right now, that's Haru.

"Tohru, is there any way to get Haru back to normal?" I question her demandingly. She shakes her head wildly, seriously messing her hair. Great. That leaves me with one option, and it may not even work. If it doesn't, it could possibly make the situation a whole lot worse.

Ah, screw it. If there's a chance it could help… Without another word, I duck my head and reenter the crowd. Some people recognize me and slip as far away from me as they can get.

"Hotsuharu!" I call for his attention. "Get a grip on yourself!"

"Huh!? What'd you say!?" I push my way to the unpopulated circle surrounding Haru. I meet his eyes, which are consumed in madness, challengingly. He snarls at me like an animal.

"You're making things worse than it," I reason. "Either calm down or leave."

"Whatchya gonna do about it?" he smirks. I tense, waiting for his to divert his gaze before lunging. I wrap my one good arm around his waist and hold on for dear life. A puff of smoke blinds me, but I can still very well hear the cries that emit from the poor onlookers. When the smoke clears, my arm is draped over the neck of a full-grown cow. So he's the cow, not that I'm surprised. Deeming him safely, tranquil, I release my hold.

"That's what you get for going on a rampage," I scold him. He stares at me with the serene eyes he usually has. "Momiji! Come help and be of use!" The little rabbit boy obediently abandons his group of admirers and comes to assist his friend.

"Vierra-chan, what are you doing?" he inquires quietly as he passes me.

"Honestly, I'm just making it up as I go." Now, perhaps I can get the crowd under control. How exactly do I do that? They won't really listen to what I of all people have to say, and it's not like I have the necessary force for authoritive crowd control. I rack my brain for ideas. What can I use? Is there maybe anything I can say? If possible, it might be useful to evacuate everyone. How can I do that? What is there that could make everyone leave.

When it strikes me, I scan the walls for my target. I weave in and out of the crowd and reach for it.

The fire alarm startles all but me. To my relief, the gym clears out quickly. The thinning mob allows me to find Yuki, again in his human form and suit, returning. His expression to my horror looks nearly dead. I step to his side timidly, grabbing his hand.

"Are…you okay?" I whisper, almost afraid of how this ordeal has affected him. He looks to me, face softening.

"I'm just…don't worry. Things like this have happened in my family past."

I ask the question I get the feeling he doesn't want me to ask. "Then how come no one knows about you?"

He tries to smile at me, but falters. Clearly whatever it is has had a negative impact on his life so far. I squeeze his hand.

"We have their memories erased," he informs me. "With a technique similar to hypnotism."

I bite my lip. Memories, huh? I've had some horrible things happen to me in the past, but there isn't a second of it I'm willing to forget. Remembering moments like this can drastically change people's lives for better or for worse. Forgetting can too.

"Let's go home," I murmur, eyes downcast.

"Wait Vierra, Yuki." Hanajima is the last remaining. She wears a Victorian style black dress, the only splash of color a midnight blue headband. "I may forget about tonight, but it doesn't matter much. Yuki, I think you should know I trust you and your family with Tohru, and this doesn't change my opinion of you. I just ask not to get her involved in anything that might harm her."

"I promise Tohru will be fine," Yuki swears, determined. "So will everyone else. No one will get hurt because of my secret."

"I hope that's true," Hanajima responds, turning away. "I will not be happy if it turns out to be a lie." She leaves us, blending into the shadowy hallways.

"I hope you believe your own words," I tell him.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you, I'll make sure of it."

"I didn't mean that," I say, shaking my head. "I mean that if you don't believe what you just said, you'll get hurt more than anyone else."

We stand in silence, not sure of what to do. Eventually, Yuki turns to me.

"We'll have to tell Shigure about-"

I cough once, roughly, when something hard connects with the back of my head. My eyes roll back as I crumble to the floor, Yuki quickly supporting me. As I fade out, I catch the voice of the blonde girl from before.

"Payback," she spits.

I moan one last time before my mind goes blank.

Dun, dun, duhhhhh! Seriously though, would anyone else be that blonde girl? I'd probably be her, the nerd obsessed with the scientific explanation. :P That'll probably never change. The day I stop being a nerd is the day I stop writing, and I think we all know that day isn't coming anytime soon. So I'll post as soon as I write up the next chapter.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!